FARMINGTON — A Flora Vista man was arrested and charged with three sets of criminal charges within a week of being released on a separate felony case.

Ronnie James, 43, was released on Nov. 7 after his first appearance in Aztec Magistrate Court on a third-degree felony count of receiving stolen property (dispose) and a misdemeanor count of use or possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records.

Since James was released on his own recognizance on Nov. 7, he has been charged with seven felonies, one misdemeanor and one petty misdemeanor charge, according to court documents.

James' attorney, Mark Curnutt, did not respond to requests for comment.

Those charges include two third-degree felony counts of larceny, a third-degree felony count of receiving stolen property (dispose) and two fourth-degree felony counts of burglary of a vehicle.

There are more charges pending from the San Juan County Sheriff's Office as the department continues to investigate James, according to Detective Lt. Kyle Lincoln.

In one case, James is accused of stealing a cargo trailer from a construction yard at 5859 U.S. Highway 64 between Bloomfield and Farmington on Nov. 10, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

The man who reported the incident to police observed a man with several tattoos on his neck and face pulling out of the construction yard with a cargo trailer that belongs to the company.

The trailer was later recovered at a residence in the 300 block of County Road 3950 east of Farmington. The lock had been cut on the cargo trailer, and the criminal complaint states equipment including an air compressor and halogen lights also were stolen.

A detective for the sheriff's office was dispatched to a residence on County Road 3003 west of Aztec on Nov. 12 on a report of a 2007 GMC pickup truck found with its tires and wheels stolen, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

The 26-inch wheels and tires stolen were worth about $2,800, according to court documents.

The owner of the vehicle told police his son and Samantha Gutierrez had driven to Farmington from Texas and were staying at the Motel 6.

Gutierrez is accused of leaving the motel with the truck while the owner's son was in the shower. About $800 in stereo equipment and a Colorado license plate were stolen from the truck.

The woman renting the property on County Road 3003 told police James and Gutierrez had shown up with a white truck on the morning of Nov. 12 and took the tires and rims off the truck, according to court documents.

Gutierrez is also facing five charges filed on Nov. 15 including larceny, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property (dispose), according to court records.

James was arrested on Nov. 15 at a residence in the 300 block of West Ash Avenue in Bloomfield after a deputy observed a white 2001 GMC pickup truck matching the description of a stolen vehicle, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

James is accused of giving a false name to the sheriff's deputy and receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle, according to court documents.

A motion filed by the San Juan County District Attorney's Office to hold James without bond pending trial states he has two pending cases in Grants District Court.

The charges are for three counts of receiving or transferring stolen motor vehicle, a count of trafficking controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the motion.

Ten felony convictions, including burglary, aggravated arson and possession of a controlled substance, were listed in the motion.

A hearing on the motion in Aztec District Court on Monday afternoon was continued, according to court records.

Aztec Magistrate Court Judge Barry Sharer issued an order to determine if James is competent to stand trial during his preliminary hearing this morning, according to court records.

James was incarcerated at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center this afternoon on a no-bond hold.

Joshua Kellogg covers crime, courts and social issues for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627 or via email at jkellogg@daily-times.com.